Traverse rod assembly



Sept- 19, 1961 F. A. YOUNG TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 23, 1959 m mm :di f Fi u "a umm umm n Oh H mv s @um TJ.

INVENTOR. Frederick A. Young. N BY WHITEHEAD, VOGL 8: LOWE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,000,045 TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY Frederick A. Young, 311 18th St., Cheyenne, Wyo. Filed Jan. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 788,627 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-87.8)

This invention relates to traverse rods and more particularly to a traverse rod assembly for carrying draperies, a primary object of the invention being to provide a novel and improved drapery traverse rod assembly. Reference is made to the application for a drapery rod assembly led by applicant on September 16, 1957, Serial Number 684,215, now Patent No. 2,966,696, the present application being a continuation in part of that application including subject matter disclosed therein and newly disclosed subject matter. Other and more specific objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved drapery traverse rod assembly which: (a) combines the associated elements of the assembly into a versatile, simple, functionally-integrated Structure with no left hand-right hand elements; (b) correlates improved, simplied drapery carrying elements and an improved carrier rod into a compact, neat appearing unit of enhanced simplicity; (c) is especially adapted for supporting conventionally pleated draperies with the outer corner pleats at the ends of the rod being held absolutely neat and square and the inner edges of the draperies at the center of the traverse rod being held by improved master slides in a straight and at manner and in spaced overlapping relation without touching each other when the draperies are closed: (d) holds suspended draperies at their top edge and thereby permits the use of simplified drapery constructions without sew-on hooks and heavy pleat-reinforcing materials; (e) includes improved master slide elements of a simplified, symmetrical construction substantially eliminating right hand-left hand components therein; and is a simplified, balanced design, easily adapted to various installations, economical, neat appearing, sturdy and reliable in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain novel and improved constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements, as hereinafter described and as dened in the appended claims, and illustrated in preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my improved drapery traverse rod assembly as mounted upon a wall preparatory to hanging draperies thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a section of the traverse rod as taken substantially from the indicated line 2 2 at FIG. l, but on an enlarged scale, and showing an elevation view of an end return and a typical cord and pulley arrangement in the traverse rod.

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of a master slide having an overlapping plate mounted thereon as viewed from the indicated arrow 3 at FIG. l, but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a master slide having an underlaping plate mounted thereon, as viewed substantially from the indicated arrow 4 at FIG. l, but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation view of the master slide with the overlapping plate.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation view of the overlapping master slide with the underlapping plate.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional elevation as viewed from the indicated line 7-7 at FIG. 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a master slide drapery pin attached thereto and a portion of a carrier plate mounted thereon.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of the extended end of la master slide carrier plate, illustrating ICC in irregular lines the corner of a drape securing thereto as by pins.

FIGURE l0 is a rear view of a master slide element per se as viewed from the indicated arow 10 at FIG. 3, but illustrating a slightly modified construction thereof.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 11-11 at FIG. 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the irnproved traverse drapery-rod assembly illustratedat FIG. l incorporates a simplified association of component elements as hereinafter described in detail. This arrangement is centered about an improved channeled carrierrod 20 of any selected length depending upon the Width of the draperies. This carrier-rod may be manufactured by any suitable process and of any suitable metal, although preferably by extrusion of aluminum to provide for a uniform, neat appearing product. The channel is formed as a distorted H and comprises a pair of slide plates 21 which are held apart in spaced parallelism by a floor plate 22. The oor plate 22 is positioned near, butl a short distance above, the lower edges of the plates 21 whereby the inner sides of the lower edges of the side plates form depending rims 23 to give the section the appearance of a distorted H rather than the appearance of the ordinary U-shaped channel. The rims 23 facilitate the connection of mounting brackets and the like as hereinafter described.

The carrier-rod is supported by a plurality of suitable wall brackets 24 which are axed to a wall as by mounting screws 26 to outstand therefrom. Each bracket 24 is adapted to grasp the inner side plate 21 of the carrierrod 20 while the outer opposite side plate 21 faces outwardly with its exposed surface or face being designed in any desirable manner to expose a neat appearing pattern or facade such as that illustrated as 21 at FIG. 1.

In preferred construction, the brackets 24 may grip the top and bottom edges of `the inner side plate 21 as by a rod clip 32 at the extended end of the bracket, but gripping of the carrier rod 20 may be accomplished in other Ways, not shown.

An improved form of pulley-carrying end return 42 may be mounted at each end of the drapery rod 20. This return includes `a. suitable pulley case 43 and an extendible return arm 44 which is normally adapted to extend rearwardly from the drapery rod to the wall whereon the drapery rod assembly is mounted. The pulley case 43 may be formed as a pair of substantially square plates 45 and 45a which are axed to one end of the return arm 44 to outstand therefrom in spaced parallelism, with the spacing being such that they will snugly lie between the side plates 21 of the carrier rod 20. Each end of the carrier rod 20 is prepared for receiving a pulley case by forming the side plates 21 With squared ends and by removing a portion of the plate 22 to provide for clearance of the plates 45 and 45a.

Each plate 45 and 45a is formed with top and bottom overturned lips 46 which slidingly embrace the top and bottom of the respective side plates 21 to secure the case in position upon the end of the carrier rod. The outer plate 45 also includes outstanding ears 47 at the top and bottom lips which `are formed with suitably aligned orifices therein for holding drapery pins to thereby provide fastening means for securing a drapery substantially -at the corner of the rod in any suitable manner.

A pair of pulley wheels 55 is mounted on a common shaft 56 between the plates 45 and 45a with a suitable divider plate 57 between the Wheels. 'Ihese wheels accommodate a conventional drapery pull cord 58 which may be strung about both pulleys 55 at the control end of the drapery and may be strung about a single pulley at the opposite end thereof. Each end return is symmetrically formed and the same end return 42 may be used at either end of the drapery rod and these returns need not be designated as left or right hand members.

A simplified construction of the intermediate draperyattachment slides 59 is possible with the distorted 'H- shaped carrier rod Ztl. Each intermediate slide 59 is formed as a narrow C-shaped body which embraces the outer side plate 2,1 of a carrier rod and includes an upper overhang 60 which reaches over the side plate and into the channel a suiicient depth to prevent the pull of a drapery from accidentally disengaging the slide from the rod. Each slide 59 is preferably formedv of molded nylon or similar strong plastic material having low frictional resistance so as to minimize the tendency of the slide to bind upon the rod.

Each slide 59 is formed with a pocket 62 at its top wherein a wheel 63- is mounted as upon a shaft 64. This shaft extends `through the slide with the inner end being upset to prevent its slipping out of place and with the outer end extending outwardly and being turned downwardly against the face of the slide and thence upwardly to form a drapery hook 65. Y

The improved overlapping master Slide 67 and underlapping master slide 68 are formed by mounting appropriate plates upon carriers 69, and these carriers ride upon the outer side plate 2l of the drapery rod. rlhe master slides support the inner corners of a pair of draperies so they can meet and lap at the center of a drapery rod assembly. Each carrier is formed as a C-shaped body similar to the slides 59, including an upper overhang 60 and if desired, a lower upstanding lip 61, substantially as hereinbefore described. They are likewise preferably formed about a body of molded nylon or the like. However, the Width of each carrier is substantially greater than that of the slides 59 and is sutilcient to include a pair of aligned pockets 62 for holding a pair of wheels 63 in tandem and upon the upper edge of the side plate 21.

The body of each carrier is encased in a metallic sheath 70 which includes suitable openings 71 at the top in registration with the pocket opening 62, cord hooks 72 of any desired form at the inner side in the channel to hold a vdrapery pull cord 58 and pairs of opposing ears 73 at the outer face which are adapted to receive drapery fastener plates and pin clip mounting eyes as hereinafter described.

Both of the Wheels `63 of each carrier are mounted upon a short shaft 64' with each end of each shaft extending through the body of the carrier and being upset to prevent slipping out of position.

The spaced opposing ears 73 on either'carrier form ways adapted to receive the overlapping plate 74 or the underlapping plate 75 and the arrangement of the ears is such that the mounting is easily interchanged or reversed in position. The overlapping plate is formed with a slide receiving base 76 having stop ears 77 at the inner edge. This plate is formed with an arm 78 that extends outwardly from the far side of the carrier 76 and thence turns to extend toward the opposite unit but spaced therefrom. The arm terminates as a drapery connecting head 79 having vertical olset edges 80 offsetting the center portion of the head and including a pair of horizontally disposed slots `$1 across the central portion and edges 80 for attachment of the corner of a drapery thereto as with an ordinary pin 82.

'I'he underlapping plate 75 is formed with a similar base 76 and with an arm 78 extending a short distance from the neat side of the carrier and thence toward the opposite unit, but being Yspaced therefrom aL a distance between the carrier and the overlapping plate so as to lie between it and the carrier when the units meet each other as to close draperies. This arm 7S terminates as a connecting head 79 having vertical offset edges 80 and horizontal slots 81, as hereinbefore described.

The connection of the corner of the drapery at these heads is by a simple pin 82 as in the manner clearly illustrated at FIG. 7. The offset edges in the connecting head permits the corner of the drapery to be snugly pushed against the head land the pin 82 is thence inserted into a slot 81 through suilicient drapery cloth material to hold it firmly in'position. Further attachment of the drapery to the carrier is by a narrow U-shaped drapery hook 83 formed of bent wire or the like having one end thereof folded against a leg portion of the U to form -a vertical shank alongside this leg portion, which may be set in eye sockets 84 at the ends of the carrier with the shank of t e hook being held in vertical position by extending it into the top and bottom sockets 84 at the edge of the carrier, as clearly illustrated at FIG. 8, A pair of sockets is formed at each end of the carrier to provide `for ycornplete interchangeability of the unit by simply alternating the position of the hook 83.

FIGS. l0 Vand ll illustrate a slight modification of the carrier construction of fa master slide, in that the carrier 69 lis yformed with a metallic sheath 70 tas hereinbefore described, but the C-shaped body portion of the carrier Within the sheath is yformed 'as -a pair ofv spaced slide elements 59a instead of being a single member. As a rurther very slight modification, the lip 61 hereinbefore described, `is eliminated `and Ia simple pointed ear outstands from the lower edge of each body element 59a. Also in lieu of the lip 61 a small nubbin `61a may be formed to upstand yfrom the ear 815 to facilitate holding the unit onto the rod in the same manner las does 4the lip 61 hereto-fore described.. However the height of this nubbin is such -th-at the carrier 69 may be snapped onto the rod 20 directly at any point lalong the rod. Aside from these slight changes and the use of a center space between the ele-ments 59a, the construction is identical to that -hereinbefore described.

The use and operation of this unit is substantially the same as that of any conventional drapery rod assembly. The assembly is mounted position upon .la wall, the draperyV pull-cord 58 threaded aboutV Wheels 55 at each end of the drapery'rod in conventional manner, andaiXed to the cord hooks 72 of the master slides. The cord conveniently lies in the channeled carrier rod and gives reliable Wear-free serv-ice. Draperies Iare then attached to the master slides, intermediate slidesV and to the corner returns 42, all to provide a neat appearing unit. The iattachment of the draperies to the master slides byy the pins 82, fitting into slots 81 and by they use of narrow U- shaped hooks 83 held in vertical position in sockets 84 permits the drapes to be held tightly and snugly against the carrier without the possibility of theV top portion of the drapes tilting outwardly and Iaway from the carrier.

While I have described my construction in considerable detail, it is obvious that others can devise and construct -alternate 'and equivalent units which are Within the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection extend not to the constructions hereinV lillustrated and described, but only to the proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved corner-connecting drapery bracket `adapted to be secured to the master slide of Ia traverse drapery rod assembly and formed as a llat Vshank adapted to be held upon Iand cantilevered from the masterV slide to -lie in spaced parallelism with the outer side facey of the master slide and including a head atthe extended end of the shank having `a laterally ottset center portion which is olset towards the face ofthe master slide with vertical olset edges Iat each side of the center portion Iand a horizontal slot across the center portion which extends into each offset edge, whereby to permit the drape corner to lie against the outer face of the head with a portion thereof being within the offset and to be fastened thereto by extending a pin across the slot and into the slot portion at each oiset edge Iat the inner face of the head.

2,. A reversi-ble master slide -for a channel-shaped drapery carrier rod formed by ya pair of spaced side plates and `a bottom plate, said slide comprising a slide body, a corner connecting drapery bracket and a narrow U-shaped hook having one end turned upon itself to form -a shank alongside the leg of the hook, and wherein said slide body includes a rectangular C-sh-aped inner side adapted to overhang the upper edge of a carrier-rod side plate and to slideably move yalong the rod, a pair of verticallydisposed, opposing clipways near each side edge of the outer face of the body with the clipways at one side being in horizontal alignment with the clipways at the opposite side thereof in a symmetrical arrangement and vertically aligned sockets `at each top and bottom corner of the body; wherein said drapery brackets include a rectangular mounting face adapted to engage the outer face of the slide body between the clipways and a drapery-connecting yarm extending beyond one side of the slide body; and wherein the shank of said hook is adapted to be positioned in a pair of top and bottom vertically-aligned corner sockets at the side of the slide body opposite to the side of the bracket -arm extension to hold the hook in a xed vertical position adjacent to the body.

3. In the master slide defined in claim 2 said drapery connecting arm having Ia attened head at its extended end with the center portion of the head being llaterally oiset towards its inner face with vertical olset edges `at each side of the center portion and a horizontal slot across this offset center portion which extends into the offset sides thereof, whereby a drapery corner may be pressed against the outer face of this head with a portion of the drape within the oiset portion and a connecting pin may be extended across the slot at the inner side thereof, through the drapery material and lie in said olset portions, to lock the drapery corner upon the head.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,681,345 Johnson Aug. 21, 1928 2,653,344 Graber Sept. 29, 1953 2,814,342 Rosenbaum Nov. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,119 Great Britain June 19, 1908 600,462 Germany July 24, 1934 

